Letters

Of Black
and
White

As a citizen of the US I had the chance to travel extensively when I was in the US Navy. We visited Rio once and I enjoyed the city. I am also an African American and I can understand the complex issues of race that people face all around the world. One of the biggest differences between the US and other countries is the boldness of racism.

Often in the US the racism is very bold and obvious. For example, some white Americans won't let their children have black friends. In Brazil there seems to be a feeling of not upsetting the balance or status quo. Just about all of the progress that blacks have achieved has been through aggressive, sometimes radical action. Blacks in the US insist on opening dialog and discussions on race. Silence seems to benefit the majority white.

Corporations in America have started to wake up to the fact that their workforce pool is starting to become non-white. They compete for the best workers by embracing diversity rather than fighting or ignoring the differences like they used to. Within the next year there will be at least 3 blacks heading the top 500 companies in the US. I hope that Brazilian blacks start to organize and realize their potential and to insist on sharing in the wealth of their country. Quotas may be necessary in order to see any substantial changes in the short run. I will be visiting Brazil next year and look forward to the trip. Thanks for the article. "Proud to be Black"

Brian Coffee
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High on Low,
Low on High

I am an African-American pastor and have done extensive traveling in America, Kenya, and Trinidad. Your article (Brazzil, August 1999) underlines what I have observed everywhere I go, that blacks are singled out and left out because of "color". When the records are revealed, the country does not matter the end results are always the same. From the total population we are underrepresented with wealth, political influence, the arts, and management level positions. When the records are revealed, the country does not matter the end results are always the same from the total population we are overrepresented in jails/prisons, lowest positions in the job market, and in media.

Reverend James H. McMearn,
Pastor New Jerusalem Baptist Church
Fountain, Colorado

Brazil
Project

I'm a Brazilian black and before Camila Pitanga, Isabel Filardis or Thais Araújo were born I was on TV. I was famous too, I had a band (Lilith) and I was working on Globo TV with Milton Gonçalves and others big black actors, but this is nothing... This new generation of black artists is totally phony. They do everything to appear and they love to suck the white people. Now I live in California, I'm a filmmaker and I have this project to make a movie about Brazil. I am trying to find people who can give me the opportunity to make my dream come true since I don't have any money to do that.

Cristina Ribeiro - cris_rib@pacbell.net
Los Angeles, California

Oblique
Racism

Does Brazil has the affirmative action program? I visited Rio a few times, as a tourist and I do not profess to know much about Brazil. However, my observation is racial inequality in Brazil is very subtle but strong.

Kam Ming
Via Internet

Testing
the Water

I am very interested in starting a subscription with this magazine from what I have seen over the Net. I am doing a research paper on the current race relations based on historic legacies. My university offers capoeira as a class and I also have been studying Portuguese for a year now and hope to find out more about the current climate before venturing to Brazil.

Sparkle Williams
Richmond, Virginia

What to
Celebrate?

I was heartbroken when I read about the National Encounter of the Pagés and their problems (June 1999). As a young person studying history I learned how mean and cruel the native could be. They were also called savages.

Today I know better. It was the invaders who started all the problems and caused much pain to the natives. Can anyone imagine their suffering? Women being raped, disease which they could not cure killing thousands of them? The beatings they endured, because they "were lazy", not good workers? Not to mention that the land for which they cared for thousands of years was being taken away from them. The invaders, so-called civilized, were the real savages! Disgracefully, all these sufferings continue today!

Next year there will be a great celebration. Five-hundred years of invasion of most of the east coast of South America. The natives' cultures will mostly be ignored of course. I wonder, will anyone stop for a minute of silence to honor the loss of life of thousands of natives, confiscation of their land, and their habitat? I certainly, will not take part in any festivities celebrating such atrocities. I feel ashamed to admit that I am a descendant of such cruel, savage people, the invaders! There, I feel better already.

Geoniora Oliveira
Fountain Valley, California

Old Jayme
Lerner &
Curitiba

A friend has told me about an article she read recently about a town in Southeastern Brazil, which is blessed with a young mayor whose principal occupation is in architecture. She relates that this young mayor has implemented some very progressive, perhaps even revolutionary programs to improve the lives of his constituency. She could not tell me where she had read about this miracle... but I wonder if you have also heard of this man and if you could possibly tell us (readers of Brazzil) more about him, his city, and his programs. I'm sure he has made considerable name for himself in Brazilian press. Do Caetano y Gilberto know of this angel? Thanks for a wonderful...if perennially late publication.

Gabrielle Martin-Neff
San Diego, California
poksfrends@aol.com 

Brazil
Via Brazzil

I really enjoyed your latest issue, especially the articles "Life's a Beach" by John Miller and "Marking Time" by Phillip Wagner and Danielle Valim. I've never been to Brazil, so reading your magazine is as close as I will get for right now. Do you know of any good places in Los Angeles for Brazilian music or food?

Jim Laven
Los Angeles, California

Add This

Your article on four-letter words was almost complete. You forgot for penis the words bambu and saroba, and for prostitute the word baranga (used in Rio de Janeiro a lot). This is my contribution to destroy the universal moral.

Luiz
Via Internet

Looking for
Tiazinha

I recently visited your page and I was wondering if you can help find a Brazilian celebrity. She appears in a TV show as a dominatrix, she comes out at the end wearing a mask and with a whip on her hand. She posed for Playboy magazine a couple of months ago and broke all types of selling records in Brazil. I don't know her name but if you know who she is, can you please let me know, if there are any Websites where I could find her.

Juan Pacheco
Via Internet

Rio
Y2K

I've just visited your impressive Website. We are a group of eight and we are interested in celebrating the millennium 2000 in Rio de Janeiro. Would it be possible to get more information on what's gonna happen like Carnaval, balls, parades, etc. etc. and also where to get tickets. Also will appreciate if you could kindly let us know which is the right club to hang out...

Farhan Adamjee
Via Internet

Help and
Rush!

My daughter has a project for school tomorrow and we need to know a few things like your location, capital, country, government, natural resources, type of agriculture, industries and any important sights. Please help!

Miriam Nazário
Via Internet

So, so
late

Although the address label on the last few magazines I have received indicates that February 00 will be my last issue, I have not received the August or September magazines. Could you please find out what the problem is and send them to me? I really enjoy your magazine and use it for news of Brazil, practicing my Portuguese and making travel arrangements.

Anna Joyce
Sebastopol, California

Rio
Calling

I saw a listing for Brazzil in the August edition of The Writer and immediately went to look at your website. Congratulations. It's a nice looking site that is easy to navigate. I wanted to know if you accept poetry submissions as well as articles. I have several poems and articles that I have developed in the three years that I have been living in Rio de Janeiro that could fit well into your publication. I also wondered if you need translation help with any of the submitted articles. I am fluent in Portuguese, and I often translate business documents, newspaper articles, etc.

Eliza Bonner
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Consulate
Matters

Please, I need help as to how to get a visa for a trip I will be making to Brazil. I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Thank you

Jahlola
Via Internet

Business
Matters

I am looking for an industrial article. In Spanish the name is sulfuro de sodio and in English is sodium sulfide, and I am looking in Brazil a company that makes the product. I would like to know if I can get any information to buy this product and to import them to Mexico.

Samuel Fishbein
s.fishbein@intranet.com.mx
Mexico City, Mexico

Newsstand
Matters

I am looking for a magazine in Portuguese to improve my language skills. My wife is Brazilian. Any idea how to order a Brazilian magazine like Veja?

Hans-Peter Seibold
German Military
McLean, Virginia

Wackyness
Matters

I happen to work as researcher on Guinness World Records Primetime Show and have been assigned to find sources of information in Brazil about incredible news stories, medical oddities, and other weird news stories. Can you recommend associations, websites, Brazilian TV shows, magazines and other sources that I should check with? In particular, do you happen to know which are the largest hospitals in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro?

David Lizama
Sherman Oaks, California

500 Years'
Matters

I am taking a class on Brazil and I was wondering if anyone there could help me out with this question. How has the economic factor helped to determine the history of Brazil since its discovery. If you could help me out with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Jennifer A Sorlie
Via Internet

Wrong
Dialing

I read the letter from Robert Hicks about the website of Telesp in São Paulo. I tried it but could not connect. Can you get the right address or get me his address so I can communicate with him?

Márcia
Via Internet

Repented
and
Newsless

I should never had let my subscription run out! I feel so out of touch.

Rebecca Holt
Seattle, Washington

Joining
Resources

Oi, I came across your web site while searching for bossa nova related sites. I looked through your site and I though it was cool that you are hosting a web page with lots of different resources. I have actually read your print version and I didn't know you were also online. Who am I? I am writing from a website that is based out of San Francisco. Because you have such a resourceful site, I decided to write you to extend an invitation. Many of your visitors would probably be interested in finding sheet music.

I noticed that you have a link page to sites like Amazon and Powell books, and since your and our visitors are likely to complement each other, I thought you might be interested in knowing about our sheet music affiliate program. We offer over 268,976 sheet music titles, that range from bossa nova and jazz to classical in genre, it's the world's largest selection. I thought your visitors might appreciate if you are one of our affiliates. The program allows you to earn money every time one of your visitors purchases something from our site. If this is of any interest, you can learn about our affiliate program real fast at: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/affiliates

I think you could do great in the program and we would certainly be excited to have you as an affiliate. Check us out for yourself, and thanks for your time for reading my e-mail. If you have any questions you can send them to me. Obrigada!

Kat Sheet Music Plus
San Francisco, California
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com 

Learner in
Residence

Could you please send any information on schools that teach Portuguese to foreigners in Brazil. I speak Spanish fluently and have studied other languages. I mention that in case there are classes for Spanish speakers. I'm taking a class in Brazilian Portuguese now but it is only one day a week. Someday I would like to study it more intensively in Brazil. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Muito obrigado.

Gregory Booth
Scotts Valley, California

Got Any
Idea?

I am a professional guitarist specializing in Brazilian music—samba, choro, baião—you name it with a CD in circulation with the Brazilian recorder player, Clea Galhano and will be producing another of the music of Baden Powell with my band Brasileirada. I would be interested in your advertising rates and anything else you have in mind to promote the CDs, a future website, etc. Obrigado!

Tony Hauser
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Job Placement
Matters

Hi, I am a 23-year-old living in Curitiba, Brazil. I am looking for a job in administration or marketing in San Diego or Los Angeles. I have a degree in Business Administration and over four years of experience. I was wondering if you could post this message in your magazine. Sincerely,

Luciana Mikos
lucianamikos@yahoo.com 

Oh, So
Disappointed

I think that I do not understand what your website is! I am serious. I wanted News from Brazil and that is what your title led me to believe and then it was like letters that I had no interest in, but I guess keep up the good work if that is what people like and see ya around maybe! ( Just a phrase)

Steven Hogan
Via Internet

Off
Course

I would like for you to help me in sending me information about Brazil. I have to write a report for International Business class and I haven't the first clue on what I am doing. Could you help?

Miranda Skinn
Huron, Ohio

California
Matters

Primeiramente, gostaria que me desculpasse, se minha solicitação a seguir esteja aquém de seu trabalho. Estou procurando por informações a respeito do estado da Califórnia (EUA). Se souberem de algum site com dados sobre atividades econômicas, pontos turísticos, folclore da região, em língua portuguesa, ficaria muito agradecida.

Via Internet
Santos, Brazil

The Voice
of Boston

Olá, tenho um projeto de mídia (radio e jornal) para a comunidade brasileira em Boston, que visa orientar politicamente os brasileiros que estão formando um novo Brasil na América. Estou sempre precisando de fazer algumas pesquisas para elaboração de notícias e temas de programas. Gostaria de contar com a sua ajuda se possível quando tiver alguma dúvida histórica, política ou econômica a respeito do Brasil.

A primeira ajuda que preciso é esta: Quais os ex-ditadores e criminosos de guerra internacionais que vivem ou viveram legalmente no Brasil protegidos pela lei da anistia? Muito agradecido pela sua atenção e em breve mandarei o endereço da web page para ouvirem a nossa rádio pela Internet.

Édson Andrade
Brazilian Cooperative of Communication and Services
Boston, Massachusetts

Long
Longing

Morei no Brasil quando era jovem. Sinto saudades das coisas brasileiras.

Lori Evans
Chattanooga, Tennessee

All the
Same

Prezados senhores, estou fazendo uma pesquisa e achei vários artigos bons em sua revista. Para colocar as referências bibliográficas deles preciso saber de algumas coisas: os artigos são exatamente os mesmos que saem publicados na revista? Onde essa revista é editada? Muito obrigada pela atenção.

Renata B. Bradford
Via Internet

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